Due to its robustness, a used container is very strong

A container is a very robust piece of manual construction work. The design looks simple, but due to the smart construction of the steel frame, made up of square tubing and corrugated iron, a container is both literally and figuratively very strong, even a used one.

In the production regions of China, new containers roll off the production lines every day. And especially now that there is a glaring shortage, the often robotized production lines are working overtime. The containers are made of Corten steel about 2 mm thick. This special steel is a metal alloy of iron to which copper, phosphorus, silicon, nickel and chromium have been added. The steel plates and square tubing are treated with a protective primer before the welding and cutting work starts. After the container has been assembled, the final finishing takes place and all possible codes are attached to it.

The advantage of Corten steel is that the addition of the other metals to the iron creates a solid rust layer, the oxide skin, which shields the deeper-lying material from oxygen. So if the paint layer wears out through intensive use, there is still some protection. However containers do not rust under normal use and maintenance, even used ones.

Part of the containers strength comes from the fact that each plate is completely vertically corrugated into a trapezoidal profile. The rest of the strength is provided by the steel frame with the characteristic corner castings at the corners. Almost all containers have a wooden floor made of certified 28 mm plywood.

A new container is either purchased by a shipping company or by a leasing company who then rents it out. The lifespan of a container is between fourteen and eighteen years. But before a container becomes "too old", container shipping companies or lease companies sell them. They then enter the second-hand market completely ‘neutralized’. This means that all logos have been painted over and the first four characters of the container number have also been removed. Each shipping company has a so-called prefix of four characters. Eveon's prefixes are EVCU and EVEU.

All used containers that Eveon sells are known as ‘Wind and Water tight’ containers. This means that the container is wind and waterproof, but that it can show signs of use such as rust, dents and scratches. However, there are no holes in it and the rubber seals around the doors are in good order. All items that are transported or stored in the container will therefore remain dry. Furthermore, the supplier where the container can be picked up or who delivers the container ensures that a proper inspection is carried out.